Jada Pinkett-Smith Is More Focused On Jaden and Willow's Careers Than HERS!

Jada believes Jaden and Willow are different from other child stars and deserve the freedom to express themselves and follow their passions — even if they are just kids.

As Jada Pinkett-Smith approaches 40, she says she’s less concerned with her own career and more concerned with the success of her kids. But, should Jaden, 12, and Willow, 10, be pressured to stay in the spotlight like this at such a young age?

“That’s the thing that’s difficult for people to understand,” Jada says. “This isn’t about fame or money. They were still going to have their trials because of who their parents are. As much as I wish I could figure out a way I could protect my children, they have their destiny. I’m not going to put brakes on that out of fear.”

“Our family structure is a little different and it’s quite hard to comprehend because it’s so outside what usually happens in a family, but the paradigm is the same,” Jada explains of her famous family, which of course includes daddy Will Smith. “You have Mother. You have Father. Father is protective. Mother is the teacher. Most of the time with child stars, the child has all the responsibilities and the mother and father don’t understand what’s actually happening to them, so the child can trust no one.”

“They feel: ‘I have to do this all by myself.’ And start to connect to people around them who might not be that trustworthy,” she adds, “But with us, the paradigm stays the same because the child can still be the child with an extraordinary gift.” So basically, Jada feels that because Jaden and Willow have her and Will to look up to, they won’t crash and burn like other child stars. Hmm.

“It is something to manage,” she adds. “I will not overlook that. I have a ten-year-old who can stand up in front of an audience of 17,000 and rock the house. I have to keep her grounded.” But does lace-up pants, tie-dyed hair and designer handbags keep a 10-year-old grounded?

“I would say we’re giving her the freedom to express herself through her dress — with boundaries. She can’t wear tight leather pants or a corset,” says Jada. That’s boundaries? ‘There’s certain areas we just have to ease up on as far as our children are concerned. It’s not about a certain pair of trousers or a certain jacket or if a child wants to shave her head. I mean, hair grows back.”

Yes, it does, but if she’s 10 and doing all of these crazy, wild things, what will she do when she reaches, say, 13?

“I find areas for Willow to express herself that, to me, are very safe — such as her dress,” Jada explains. “I’m not going to let her go out with her midriff showing and she’s not wearing any heels.” Let’s hope not, she’s still a child!

So, as a parent, do you support Jada and Will’s take on their kids’ “destinies” or do you feel that they might be pushing them a little too hard?